Hot Topics:

Johnnie St. Vrain: Flag again not lowered at one Longmont Memorial Day observance

Longmont Times-Call

Posted:
06/02/2013 07:00:50 PM MDT

Updated:
06/02/2013 07:04:07 PM MDT

An American Legion honor guard participates in Memorial Day ceremonies at Stephen Day Park on May 27. (A Patriotic Longmont Resident/courtesy photo)

Dear Johnnie: I recall that after Memorial Day last year, your column had a story about the flag at Stephen Day Park not being lowered to half-staff from sunrise until noon. I believe the outcome of your investigation was that the city of Longmont was going to make sure that it was done this year.

I am attaching a photo showing that, once again, the flag was not lowered. The governor and the president issued proclamations stating that on Memorial Day, the flag is to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise until noon. The American Legion Honor Guard did a very impressive ceremony at the park; it would have been nice to have the flag lowered.

I understand that a key is required to be able to lower the flag, and I assume someone with the city of Longmont has access to that key and should take responsibility for lowering the flag. -- A Patriotic Longmont Resident

Dear Patriotic Resident: I started making phone calls and got mixed information about whether the flag had been lowered. Then I noticed that a friend of mine, Margaret, had posted photos of Monday's event on her Facebook page. So I messaged her.

"As I understand it, the flag was never at half-staff on Memorial Day," wrote Margaret, a new member of the American Legion. "At least, it wasn't at half-staff when we did the ceremony at 9 a.m., and it wasn't at half-staff when we left to go do the Foothills ceremony."

When this happened last year, city representatives noted that there had been confusion about who was responsible for lowering the flag on weekends and holidays, when most city departments are not staffed. The solution was to assign this task (and flagpole keys) to firefighters. In the case of Stephen Day Park, that means Station No. 3 on Pace Street.

So, I spoke with Jerrod Vanlandingham, deputy chief of public safety for fire services.

"We didn't do it, and we were supposed to do it," he told me Friday morning. "We did have some contributing factors, but that's certainly no excuse. We will do better."

Given that these days it's possible to call anyone, anywhere, at any time, I asked Vanlandingham if it's possible for those running the ceremony to contact the fire department if they arrive at the park and see that the flag has not been lowered.

"If they were to contact our dispatch center non-emergency line at 303-651-8501, our dispatchers can get ahold of our assistant chief on duty. That certainly would have helped," he said.

Listening to Vanlandingham on Friday morning, I can assure you he wasn't laying the blame anywhere but on the fire department. But to anyone out from the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars who has a cellphone, do keep in mind that you can make a call.

"Last year was the first time ... I ever went to Stephen Day Park for the memorial service. It was there that I decided to look into joining the DAR and the American Legion," said Margaret, who served in the Air Force in the early 1980s. "... At last year's Memorial Day service, I noticed that most of the guys in the Legion are really getting up in years, and I thought that maybe it was time for some of the 'younger' vets to step up and do their part."

And she noted: "For the amount of people who live in this area, I am saddened by the poor attendance. Most of the people who do attend are well up in years. I saw very few children at the services. I hate to think that the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom will be dying off with the older generation relatively soon."

Thank you for your service, Margaret.

To readers: You can thank a veteran any day of the year, but two days are set aside to thank and remember those who sacrificed their lives for our country and those who were willing to risk their lives for our country. Be sure to take every opportunity to show them your appreciation.

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

It didn't take long for Denver music observers to notice Plume Varia. Husband and wife Shon and Cherie Cobbs formed the band only two years ago, but after about a year they started finding themselves on best-of lists and playing the scene's top venues. Full Story